Starting a new business is a daunting task. Many questions need to be answered. Where and how will I get financing? What is my best option? Should I be registered as an S Corp or a C Corp? What information should be included in a business plan? In this FREE boot camp, David Lucier, CPA will help provide answers to these questions and point you in the right direction towards financing your dream business. David will help guide you through this process and give you the best advantage possible on your new business venture. This seminar will help you effectively prepare a business plan and figure out the best means of financing.

Opening The Doors To Your Business Start-Up Clinic (Rhode Island Small Business Development Center – Newport Chamber of Commerce, 35 Valley Road in Middletown from 6:00 – 9:00pm and is free of charge. For more information or to register, visit www.risbdc.org or call 401-598-2702):

Have you been over your checklists multiple times, and everything seems to be in place? Then it is time to take that big step and open your doors for business. Entrepreneurs can often overlook critical steps in the startup process, so to ensure they position their businesses efficiently, legally, and soundly, the RISBDC is offering this comprehensive clinic.

Since lack of planning is one of the top reasons new businesses fail, attending this workshop may be one of the most important decisions you make prior to opening your doors.

Financial Management (Rhode Island Small Business Development Center – 3 sessions, running each Tuesday through December 11 from 6:00 – 9:00pm and is free of charge. Please check back for location information. For more information or to register, visit www.risbdc.org or call 401-598-2702):

Participants will learn the building blocks of financial statements in this two-session program. Topics to be covered include how to read and interpret financial statements and how knowledge of business accounting can improve one’s bottom line. The program also covers income and expense recordkeeping, cash accounting versus accrual accounting, essential records for small businesses, all-important financial statements and how to analyze them, and recordkeeping for tax purposes. At no additional cost, all participants receive a free book for future reference. This is a critical class for start-up business owners whether you keep the books yourself, hire someone to do it, or rely only on your accountant.

How To Start Or Run A Profitable Small Business (Rhode Island Small Business Recovery Program – Centerville Conference Center, 875 Centerville Road, Building 2, Suite 5 in Warwick from 6:30 – 9:00pm and is free of charge. To register please visit www.rismallbusinessrecovery.com or call 401-447-8000):

There are many advantages to running a small business: independence, satisfaction, sheltering income and profits. Did you know that 89% of incomes over $50,000 a year are earned by owners of small businesses? However, four out of five businesses don’t last five years and few ever earn the profits they should. What is the difference between success and failure? Knowledge!Who should not attend? Anyone who is truly happy working for somebody else.What will you learn? Ten hottest businesses of 2012…How to slash hundreds off your taxes…Why most businesses waste 90% of their advertising dollars…Twenty biggest pitfalls in starting and running a small business…How to price your product or service…How to start with very little cash…How to differentiate or business from the competition…and much more!

Business Basics: Ten Steps To Starting A Business (Center for Women & Enterprise – 132 George M. Cohan Boulevard in Providence from 10:00am – 12:00pm. Fee for class is $35 and partial scholarships may be available. For more information or to register visit www.cweboston.org or call 401-277-0800 or email ngirard@cweonline.org ):

If you are thinking about owning a business or are in the early stages of starting one, then this workshop is for you. Register for this class to:

* Further develop and refine your business ideas * Consider your legal structure * Discuss choosing a name and entity * Learn how to obtain an employer identification number, licenses, permits and insurance

Leave the session with an A to Z overview and specific tools and tips that will help you get started quickly

Six Steps To Small Business Success (Rhode Island Small Business Recovery Program – Centerville Conference Center, 875 Centerville Road, Building 2, Suite 5 in Warwick from 8:00 – 10:00am and is free of charge. To register please visit www.rismallbusinessrecovery.com or call 401-447-8000):

In this two hour seminar we will discuss starting, running and selling a highly profitable small business. The following will be discussed:

1. Pre-business planning2. Start-up – Financing, budgets and numbers3. Human resources – Managing people4. Operations – Work flow, customers, sales5. Building a salable business and the sale6. Transitioning to life after business

You will receive the book “Six Steps to Small Business Success” by David J. Lucier, CPAfor free, a $21.95 value.

Opening The Doors To Government Contracting: The SBA’s HUBZone Program (U.S. Small Business Administration, City of Providence, Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, Center for Women & Enterprise – 132 George M. Cohan Boulevard in Providence. There will be two sessions available. The first from 9:00 – 11:00am and the second from 4:00 – 6:00pm. Both sessions are free of charge. To register, please call 401-528-4561 or email providence.ri@sba.gov ):

The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program is designed to introduce your business to the pro-gram, help determine whether your business is eligible for the program, and support your business' efforts to participate in the program. Every year, the federal government awards over $500 billion in contracts, and a significant share of those contracts are specifically allotted to small businesses. SBA works with federal agencies to assist them in identifying and awarding contracts in order to meet the 23% statutory goal of government-wide small business prime contracting. Agencies are also required to award 3% of contracts to small businesses located in historically underutilized business zones (HUBZones). SBA encourages small businesses to learn more about the HUBZone program and take advantage of this federal contracting opportunity.

The session is designed for all small businesses considering HUBZone certification or looking for more information on the HUBZone program.

SBA’s participation or support of this event is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any co-sponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs or cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a non -discriminatory basis.